Which statement indicates a need for further teaching about crutch walking?

• A. When I go down stairs I move the good leg first.
• B. I step with the unaffected leg first
• C. I place weight on both crutches equally
• D. I climb up stairs using the crutches to support myself

Answer: (C)

Using crutches correctly is about coordinating weight bearing through the hands on the grips and through the crutch tips while the legs move in a controlled sequence, especially on stairs. The statement about placing weight on both crutches equally shows a misunderstanding of how to distribute weight during crutch walking. When you use crutches, you should support your weight with your arms and crutches while the legs bear weight as directed by your rehab plan; distributing weight evenly between both crutches can mask whether you’re transferring load to the injured leg properly and can lead to instability or fatigue in the arms.

Understanding the stair sequence helps too: when climbing up, you should bring the uninjured leg up first, followed by the crutches and the injured leg. When descending, you lower the injured leg first, then the crutches, then the uninjured leg. Climbing up with the crutches supporting you aligns with this pattern, so that part is correct. Saying you step with the unaffected leg first can be correct in the upward direction, but without specifying direction it can be misleading. The important point is that weight should be managed through the arms and crutches with proper leg movement, not evenly through both crutches alone.